The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1887-10-14
NO 80.
Dewitt (Iowa) Observer.
HousToN, TEX. Sept "a, asl
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Dewitt dowal Observer.
HousToE, TEX, Sept "a 'sl.
FRIEND sHoEhAKERi
As the native Louisianian or Texan
would say, l have done been and seen
that wonderful town Of Jenniugs and
country about, Of which 80 mach has
been said, aud SO many glowing lst'
ters written, During the past eight
years that I have spent mostly in
Texas, have had occasion to pass
through this section Of the country
several times, but as il was before the
Calcasieu boom, l bad never taken
particular notige Of this particular
locality. Bnt ! found the neat, en-,
torprising little town Of Jennings lo-
Gated very much as ! expected, in ihe
midst Of certainly as beautiful
prairie as ever the sun shono upon;
the fertility Of which think will
compare fayorably with Iowa soil.
have been on the ranges of West
ern Texas, Colorado, Kansas, Me-
braska and some Of the territories,
but nowhere in any country ala u
ever see such growth of vegetation
as the prairies Of Southwest Lopis-
lana produce.
l spent one day in riding over the
country in company with Mr. Cary,
the gentlemanly agent Of the company,
aud called upon several farmers, my
sole object being to examine tho
crops Oats I found none, but the
corn saw would compare fayorably
with Iowa corn, and, to the very best
Of my Judgment, would yield about 35
bushels to the acre; and the farmers
assured me that this is not an average
weld, as Southwest Louisiana did not
escape tho drouth altogether The
best corn | saw was on the farm Of
one Mr.. Daniels, an Illinois man from
near Chicago, who three years ago
bought out an old Cageon, who him
self aud forefathers had lived on tho
place for ages-live oaks, set out By
his ancestors and cut down by the
soldiers during waA, had grown 70
two feet in diameter. Mr., Daniels
assured me that ho had grown fifty
bushels of corn on land that had been
farmed fifty years, This speaks well
for the lasting qualities Of the soil.
Sweet potatoes aud rice grow IN
abundance on his farm, while no fats
his hogs on figs, | can't say any
thing, though, in favor Of the Irish
potato crop; those that ! saw looked
very much like my crop, that | raised
this year, after the cut worms aud
striped bugs had got through with
them. | believe, however, that sea-
sons when there is plenty Of rainfall
that potatoes could bo grown success
| fully,
The choice lands of this section of
the country are not confined to Calca-
sieu parish alone. Tho lands in tho
adjoining parish, east Of the Mermen'
tau river, are just as desirable.
l would like to have my many
friends, who requested me 70 write
them, to accept this letter as the ful-
fllment Of my promise, as could say
no moro if / should write each oi
them personally,
Perhaps some Of the readers Of The
Observer may think me little en-.
thusiastic upon the subject Of South.
west Louisiana, but / assure them
am not. 1 am here 10 satisfy my
: own curiosity and would not advise
= any man to pull up stakes and CONS
here until he has FIRST como and seer
J for himself. But will take tht
. liberty to say this much, knowing
. what I do about the country now i
/, | were a renter in Iowa and coult
sell off my personal property fo
$ enough 10 land myself and family q
Q Jennings Station and have fyI
= hundred dollars, or even four, tt
= start with, | would get there as sooE
as possible.
s am satisfied, in my own mind
that the best results from farming
s have not as yet been obtained, as thl
= most Of the settlers here are Of limites
means, consequently q six inch plov
I and a span Of Creole ponies constitute
q farming outfit, If we were to farm
9 in Iowa The way they farm here W.
! would not be troubled long with th'
!. pests that prey upon our crops, 70
they would all starye TO death,
\ In conclusion lot me soy that
\ / will come North sometime thi
i winter to close ont my persona
4 effects, and every dollar can Fais
Il goes into Calcasieu parish The proc
4 Of the pudding is in eating i,
! Yours, respectfully,
: j. H. TAgsRY